Dan Bazuin

FEATURED ARTICLES ABOUT DAN BAZUIN - PAGE 3

Rex Grossman probably has more to gain from Saturday's game in Seattle than Kyle Orton. Grossman will start, and if he gets hot, he could get a nudge. On the other hand, if Grossman and Orton both turn in fairly nondescript performances, then it's advantage, Orton. Wide receiver Mark Bradley finally stood out during one practice before breaking camp like a guy who realized how tenuous his future could be. With Devin Hester, Rashied Davis and third-round pick Earl Bennett appearing to be roster locks, that likely leaves two spots for Brandon Lloyd, Marty Booker and Bradley.

Not to make too much of Marian Hossa's debut for the Blackhawks this week, but there's a lot to make of Marian Hossa's debut for the Blackhawks this week. Almost five months after he signed that 12-year deal as a free agent and almost four months after shoulder surgery, the big winger with the great reach and even better hands looked like a Transformer out there. He played in every situation, scored short-handed and again at even strength and skated on what might be the NHL's most dangerous line in a 7-2 strafing of a powerful San Jose team.

An apology: I've been terribly unfair to Lovie Smith. I've been calling for his firing for so long that I've neglected to demand as loudly that he share a cab to O'Hare with Jerry Angelo. Too many Bears players aren't getting better. That's coaching. Too many Bears draft choices redshirt. That's general managing. Angelo wastes so many high draft picks that he appears to be channeling his inner Matt Millen. Cedric Benson, meet Dan Bazuin. And just so you don't think it's a fluke like the Bears' Super Bowl was, Angelo has expanded his drafting disease to include wasting a second-round pick in a trade for the rumor formerly known as Gaines Adams.

Lovie Smith talked about the tough cuts he had to make Saturday, cuts that included six players off last season's Super Bowl team. A rookie's absence from the 53-man active roster, however, was the most striking roster move. Defensive end Dan Bazuin was put on injured reserve as a result of a left knee injury. The second-round pick from Central Michigan had been limited since the start of training camp. Bazuin had a few good moments in an exhibition against San Francisco, but the injury slowed him noticeably.

By Bob Goldsborough For RedEye and Bob Goldsborough is a RedEye special contributor | August 30, 2007

White Sox backup catcher Toby Hall has paid $1,175,000 for a newly built, 5,000-square-foot-plus single-family house in Burr Ridge. In December, Hall, 32, signed a two-year, $3.65 million contract with the team to back up starting catcher A.J. Pierzynski. Hall's new 11-room house had been listed for $1.25 million. Features in the five-bedroom house include four and a half baths, two fireplaces and a master suite with his and hers closets, a whirlpool and a double sink. Other features include a kitchen with granite countertops and top-of-the-line appliances, a breakfast room, hardwood floors and a three-car garage.

It will be a Jerry Angelo kind of second day, at least starting out. The Bears GM has five picks stockpiled by virtue of his deal with the San Diego Chargers, and don't rule out his using every one. He made five second-day picks in 2004, of which Nathan Vasher is the only one still on the roster. He made eight second-day picks in 2003, and nearly all of them made the roster. It will be a day of looking for special-teamers, likely running backs and defensive backs. Hampton running back Alonzo Coleman and Wake Forest safety Patrick Ghee are possibilities.

Lance Briggs is going to play, not sit. The Bears Pro Bowl linebacker agreed to a one-year, $7.2 million contract Wednesday as the team's franchise player. Unhappy when he was initially given the tag, Briggs had threatened to sit out the season but reached an agreement one day before the Bears are to report to training camp. The deal came together after the Bears agreed to not put the franchise tag on Briggs in 2008 -- if he participates in 75 percent of the defensive snaps this season -- and give the linebacker a $1 million advance, agent Drew Rosenhaus said.

Alex Brown fired off the ball at the snap, engaging the right tackle in a one-on-one matchup in pass protection and then executing a lightning spin move intended to free him for a burst to the quarterback. Trouble was, Brown just spun in place. "I spun in a circle I think," Brown said, laughing. "I'm going to get it, though." Brown did not suddenly forget one of the signature moves of a top pass rusher, and at Sunday's practice at Soldier Field he drew a crowd reaction with a spin and clean victory over tackle John Tait.

The Bears capped an off-season of contract successes Wednesday when they signed second-round draft pick Dan Bazuin to a deal worth $7.65 million over four years. The contract was worked out the same afternoon linebacker Lance Briggs was signing the one-year contract that accompanied his franchise tag and a day after cornerback Charles Tillman agreed to a six-year contract extension. As of late Wednesday, with approximately 24 hours to go until the start of many training camps, only 14 second-round picks had agreed to terms.

JOHN MULLIN PREDICTS It will be a Jerry Angelo kind of second day, at least starting out. The Bears GM has five picks stockpiled by virtue of his deal with the San Diego Chargers, and don't rule out his using every one. He made five second-day picks in 2004, of which Nathan Vasher is the only one still on the roster. He made eight second-day picks in 2003, and nearly all of them made the roster. Of his six second-day picks in 2002, Adrian Peterson and Alex Brown proved to be enlightened ones.